The leading candidate for the Green Party in Baden-Württemberg’s upcoming state election, Cem Özdemir, has indicated a potential shift in the timeline for banning the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars from 2035. Speaking to the Handelsblatt newspaper, Özdemir emphasized the need for collaboration between industry and policymakers, advocating for flexibility regarding the “when” of the ban while maintaining a clear direction towards emission-free mobility.
While suggesting a possible adjustment to the timeline, Özdemir firmly rejected a complete reversal of the combustion engine ban, citing significant investments already made by the automotive industry in electric vehicles and related technologies.
The Green Party politician criticized Bavarian Minister President Markus Söder (CSU), who has recently called for a review of the ban. Özdemir stated that a forward-looking industrial policy should avoid short-sighted reversals and focus on future-oriented solutions. Franziska Brantner, also a Green Party leader, reaffirmed the party’s unwavering commitment to climate-neutral vehicles and the combustion engine phase-out, stating the position without reservation.
Sebastian Roloff, the SPD’s spokesperson for economic policy, also revealed openness to discussions regarding a postponement of the 2035 target. He stressed the need for a unified roadmap from policymakers and the automotive sector to safeguard locations and jobs within Germany.
The current regulations, known as “fleet limits” dictate that all new cars registered in the EU must average 93.6 grams of CO2 per kilometer. This figure is slated to be progressively reduced to zero grams per kilometer by 2035, effectively prohibiting the sale of new combustion engine vehicles. These targets are part of the “Fit-for-55” package, which aims to steer the EU away from a climate warming trajectory of over four degrees Celsius and towards a pathway that could limit global warming to just above two degrees Celsius. Recent rulings by the International Court of Justice have highlighted the potential for legal action against states that exceed a 1.5-degree Celsius warming threshold.